Teen get 12 months in prison for assault

By Lauren Pack, Staff Writer 10:56 PM Thursday, January 21, 2010

HAMILTON — A Middletown teenager was given a one-year prison sentence Thursday, Jan. 21, for hitting a man outside a Central Avenue last summer.

Rodney D. Hunter, 17, of 10th Avenue, who is being tried as an adult, told Butler County Judge Andrew Nastoff before the sentencing, “I am so sorry for everything that happened.”

Hunter pleaded guilty to felonious assault on Nov. 20 in connection with the punching Randy Rogers, 54, on June 19 outside the NYC cell phone store on Central Avenue. He faced a maximum prison term of 18 months.

Defense attorney Ken Crehan said on June 19, Hunter, who was 16 at the time, was walking down the street minding his own business when he was confronted by Rogers, who made racial slur.

Rogers was known to use drugs and alcohol and harass kids in the area, according to the attorney.

“He confronts Mr. Hunter and calls him a (racial epithet ),” Crehan said, adding Hunter punched Rogers only once.

“He reacted as a juvenile would. It was not premeditated,” Crehan said. “It would be a shame to ruin this kid’s life by sending him to the penitentiary.”

Assistant Prosecutor Lee Oldendick read a letter from Rogers’ daughter stating he is still in a nursing home and recovering from injuries that will likely leave him permanently disabled.

Nastoff said the case is “tragic all around.” The judge noted that Hunter has had minimal prior contact with law enforcement, but that he does have a case pending in juvenile court, which occurred prior to the June incident.

“What (the) victim said to Mr. Hunter is inexcusable, but it cannot be a justification for physical violence,” Nastoff said.

The judge told Hunter that a year is not a lot of time in the whole scheme of things, “but it is enough time for you to see what the inside of a prison and decide if it is a place you want to frequent in the future or stay the hell out of.”

Hunter’s grandmother and father were in court and spoke on his behalf. They declined to give their names and had no comment after the sentencing.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2168 or lpack@coxohio.com.